Wednesday's KCNA dispatch says authorities were detaining Kim and are conducting a detailed investigation into his alleged crime.

It says Kim was invited to Pyongyang University of Science and Technology to teach accounting as a professor.

The school's chancellor and the Swedish Embassy in Pyongyang earlier gave the information about Kim's detention but the reason for his arrest wasn't known. They used a different spelling of Kim's name.

The North is currently holding at least two other Americans, Kim Dong Chul and Otto Warmbier.